Sacrifice and Conversion in the Early Modern Atlantic World

Sacrifice and Conversion in the Early Modern Atlantic World explores the conceptualization and representation of sacrifice during the European invasions of the American continent and the Reform. It examines the encounter between European and American sacrificial conceptions and their intellectual, cultural, religious, ideological, and artistic derivations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 378 pages
Publication date: 01 April 2022
Publisher: Harvard University Press

When Europeans ventured to the American continent in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, they encountered a profound cultural shock that deeply unsettled their understanding of the world. The images they encountered of Tupinamba cannibals, Aztecs slicing human hearts out, and idolatrous Incas flooded their imagination, creating a sense of horror and disbelief. However, it was not only the indigenous peoples of the Americas who practiced sacrificial practices. During the early modern period, Europe itself was plagued by devastating wars that left no region untouched.

Sacrifice and Conversion in the Early Modern Atlantic World delves into a captivating and complex aspect of the mutual influences between the European invasions of the American continent and the crisis of Christianity during the Reform and its aftermaths: the conceptualization and representation of sacrifice. As a central element in religious practices and systems, sacrifice becomes a crucial lens through which to understand not only cultural exchange but also the power struggles between American and European societies in colonial times.

In this collection of essays, scholars explore the intricate ways in which cultures interpret sacrificial practices beyond their own, shedding light on the role of these interpretations in the process of conversion. By examining the encounter between European and American sacrificial conceptions, expressed in a wide range of texts, music, rituals, and images, the authors offer a rich and multifaceted perspective on the complex web of intellectual, cultural, religious, ideological, and artistic derivations that emerged from this historical period.

The essays in this volume cover a wide range of topics, from the representation of sacrifice in early modern European literature and art to the impact of sacrificial practices on the formation of American religious identities. They explore the ways in which European missionaries and colonists attempted to understand and incorporate indigenous sacrificial practices into their own religious systems, as well as the ways in which these encounters sparked conflicts and tensions.

Through their analysis, the authors demonstrate how sacrifice became a powerful tool for shaping cultural identities, negotiating power dynamics, and fostering religious conversion. They highlight the ways in which sacrificial practices were both influenced by and influenced by the broader cultural and religious contexts in which they occurred, creating a dynamic and multifaceted tapestry of intercultural exchange.

Sacrifice and Conversion in the Early Modern Atlantic World offers a valuable contribution to our understanding of the complex and multifaceted relationship between Europe, the Americas, and the broader world of religion and culture. By exploring the conceptualization and representation of sacrifice, the authors shed light on the ways in which cultural boundaries were blurred, identities were formed, and the boundaries between faith and empire were contested. This collection is essential reading for scholars and students of history, religion, cultural studies, and the history of the Americas.

Dimension: 241 x 165 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674278806